What is MRD?

Measurable (or minimal) residual disease (MRD) refers to the small number of cancer cells that can remain in the body after treatment and may be the first sign that a cancer has returned. These remaining cells are present at very low levels and typically cause no signs or symptoms. MRD is used to track and measure blood cancers over time.[1]

What is the clonoSEQ Assay?

The clonoSEQ Assay is a tool used to monitor MRD in blood cancers.

Much like your local grocery store uses barcodes to identify products in the check-out line, clonoSEQ uses unique DNA sequences associated with cancer as barcodes to identify the cancer cells in your body.

In follow-up tests over the course of treatment, clonoSEQ looks for these specific barcodes and counts them to determine how the disease has changed since your previous test. This allows your care team to monitor the disease over time and assess how treatment is working.[2, 3]

When it comes to treating blood cancers, your doctor’s ability to detect traces of disease may be critical to making an informed decision about your treatment plan. clonoSEQ MRD results allow your doctor to assess your response to therapy at multiple timepoints and track changes in your disease burden over time.[5, 6] Based on your doctor’s judgment, these results may allow for earlier intervention if the cancer returns or the avoidance of unnecessary treatment during remission.

If you have one of these types of cancer, ask your doctor if clonoSEQ is right for you

MULTIPLE
MYELOMA

ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA (ALL)

How does the clonoSEQ Assay work?

The clonoSEQ Assay makes it possible to identify, measure, and monitor residual disease that may remain in your body after treatment. It works by identifying the DNA sequence barcode(s) associated with your specific disease and then tracks them over time.[3, 4, 5] Even when cancer goes into remission, clonoSEQ can continue to search for these barcodes with periodic testing, so that your doctor knows if the disease returns even before physical signs and symptoms appear.[6]

Step 1: Identification

Step 2: MRD TRACKING

Identify the cancer’s unique DNA “barcodes”

To get started with clonoSEQ testing, your doctor will send Adaptive a blood, bone marrow, or tissue sample taken at diagnosis. If you have already started treatment, Adaptive can work with your doctor to retrieve a stored diagnostic sample. Adaptive will use that diagnostic sample to precisely identify the DNA barcodes that are associated with your disease.

Use the DNA barcodes identified in the initial test to track disease over time

Once the initial identification step is complete, you are ready for clonoSEQ MRD testing. The clonoSEQ Assay compares the DNA barcodes identified in your initial test to those found in blood or bone marrow samples taken during or after treatment. This process allows Adaptive to determine whether any residual disease is still present in your body, with the ability to detect 1 cancer cell in a million, as well as how the amount of disease has changed over time.

Our commitment to supporting patient access

Learn more about the Adaptive Assist Patient Support Program and how we’re here to help make clonoSEQ testing accessible for patients.

How are clonoSEQ results used?

MRD results have the potential to impact treatment decisions. With clonoSEQ, your doctor can monitor your response to therapy at multiple timepoints during treatment and remission. The clonoSEQ report provides you and your doctor with clear results, including a graph showing your level of disease at different points in time.

Adaptive delivers your clonoSEQ results to your doctor within 7 to 14 days from the date your sample is received and accepted by our lab. clonoSEQ results include the following information:

MRD trend

Patient Resources

Making Connections

There are many organizations working to help patients and caregivers learn about blood cancers, treatments, and diagnostic tools. These groups are great resources to learn more about cancer and to connect with other patients.